Tom Savage and Khalil Mack have been making the most noise of late when it comes to the NFL draft, though they are coming from far different directions. Savage was not even a top-10 quarterback when the process began, but his recent ascension has been the talk of the town. Meanwhile, there is no secret that Mack has long been regarded as a top-5 pick, but now there is some noise about the linebacker being selected No. 1 overall. Here's a look at those stories and more NFL draft buzz:

Blasting up the board

Pitt's sports information office released the news via Twitter over Easter weekend that quarterback Tom Savage declined an invitation to the draft. The bigger news is that he was invited to begin with.

Pittsburgh quarterback Tom Savage possesses the size and arm strength that NFL coaches love, and his potential has him moving up many teams' draft boards. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

When it comes to quarterbacks, Blake Bortles and Johnny Manziel are at the top of the class with the likes of AJ McCarron and Derek Carr occupying the next level. And who knows where Teddy Bridgewater is these days (see below). Yet we know from experience there is always a player that takes the express elevator up the board in the weeks before the draft.

To say Savage has simply worked his way up the board, though, is not doing the chatter surrounding his name justice. Rather, he has cannonaded his way up the board to the point of even being projected to be as high as the 33rd overall pick, a selection the leads off the second round and belongs to the Houston Texans.

It would not have been a surprise had this been the spring of 2011 or 2012 and Savage's name was being bandied about as it is now. The Philadelphia-area product had a nice freshman season for a Rutgers program that was gaining much momentum under Greg Schiano. The sky seemed to be the limit for the highly-touted Savage, who earned various all-freshman honors.

Yet what followed was an injury, plenty of sulking and two transfers, the second of which resulted in his being the starting quarterback for Pitt last season.

As scouts dusted off files they had on Savage -- he went more than 1,000 days between pass attempts -- the 6-foot-5, 230-pounder went on to have a productive season for the Panthers despite a porous and injury-riddled offensive line that left him banged up more than once.

Savage has the size, poise and certainly the arm strength, and he's matured significantly since walking away from Rutgers. Those are the attributes that, combined with his strong workouts, have shot his name into a sphere many could not have foreseen.

Texans mulling Mack?

With the top pick, many feel the Texans will go with a disruptive force on the defensive side of the ball. That, of course, means Jadeveon Clowney. Or does it? According to what The MMQB's Peter King is hearing, Houston general manager Rick Smith likes Buffalo's Khalil Mack.

There is plenty to like about Mack. He was a game-breaking force at outside linebacker for the Bulls and had a superb combine. In fact, NFL Network's Mike Mayock tabbed Mack as the player he would take No. 1 overall coming out of the combine. He likely was not alone with that proclamation.

As a fifth-year senior, Mack was among the nation's leaders in sacks (10.5), tackles for loss (19), forced fumbles (5), fumble recoveries (3) and had three interceptions to boot. It added up to a season in which multiple outlets tabbed the native Floridian as a first-team All-American.

This adds another level of intrigue to an already interesting situation regarding the Texans at No. 1. Not only has there been the question as to whether they are going to select a QB, but which one. Then the prevailing thinking was that Houston, tied for 29th with 32 sacks last season, will take Clowney. Now Mack's name surfaces.

By the way, with Mack likely to go among the first three picks he would easily be the highest drafted player out of Buffalo. Defensive end Gerry Philbin was selected with the 33rd pick by the Lions in 1964.

Picked apart

The Browns and Texans are next on Teddy Bridgewater's frequent-flyer destinations. Maybe Cleveland will be the savior because the way his stock is falling one would think that he blew out his right throwing shoulder at the combine.

Actually, Bridgewater did not throw -- or run -- at the combine, which raised more than a few eyebrows, then followed that with a disappointing performance at his pro day. He did throw for nearly 4,000 yards with 31 touchdowns and only four interceptions as a junior with Louisville last season. Unfortunately, in a pre-draft world in which the combine and pro days dominate, such gaudy stats can become rusty very fast.

Seemingly overnight Bridgewater has plummeted from being mentioned as a top pick to a possible second-rounder. But should his stock have been high to begin with, even before the combine? Not if you ask one former GM.

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Aaron Murray, working out at Georgia's pro day on April 16, is among quarterbacks the Rams have met with. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Not just window shopping

The Rams have been looking at quarterbacks the way potential buyers kick tires at automobile dealerships. They have been traveling around getting a feel for a good number of QBs. With Sam Bradford's current deal expiring in two years, the front office is not feeling any urgency to bring a quarterback on board, but they certainly would like somebody who would be ready to step in and answer the bell before for too long.

Evans' measuring sticks

Brandon Marshall has 712 career receptions with 57 resulting in touchdowns. Vincent Jackson has caught 422 passes, including 52 TDs. Mike Evans, late of Texas A&M and the best or second-best receiver in the draft, compares favorably to both NFL veterans in size. As far as his overall game he says that he compares himself Marshall, and in so doing mentions the Chicago receiver's blocking ability. Imagine that: a soon-to-be-high-pick receiver admiring how a veteran blocks. That's refreshing.

To trade or not?

The Vikings are not going to use the No. 8 pick on a player that cannot be of much help right away. If GM Mike Zimmer opts to remain in that spot they will likely select a player that will have an immediate impact on defense. On the other hand -- there is always another hand -- Minnesota could trade down to accumulate a couple of more picks on top of the 10 they possess. This would allow for more flexibility than they already have. Minnesota could address many concerns on defense while lining up some assets on offense, whether the need is for now or later, and still make another deal. With their quantity of picks combined with the possibility of trading out of the eight-hole, the Vikes' influence on this draft could resonate well beyond their own interests.